Ore classifier



A. Q. DAMAN ORE CLASSIFIER @ciao 6, w25

Filed March s 1924 3 Sheets-shew l @ma 6, @25 'L A. c. @AMAN ORE CLASSIFIER Filed March 5, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 'MJ M.

Patented @ein 6, 1925.

B RTHUR G. DAMIAN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

\ can cLAssIFIEn.

Application led March 3, 1924;- Serial No. 696,589.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ARTHUR C. DAMAN, a citizen of the United States "of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore Classifiers, ofwhich the following is a vide, in combination with a mechanical classifier', hydraulic means 'for separating the shines from the sands.

Still another object of the invention is to` provide a maximum over-How area for the solution from the classifier tank so as to reduce the velocity of the fiow.

A further object is to provide means in a device of this character whereby the depth at which the rakes penetrate the settled sands may be adjusted.

A stiil further object is to efficiently combine mechanical agitation in a hydraulic classifier.

@ther objects and advantages reside in the. detail construction of the invention, which result in simplicity, economy, and efficiency, and which will become more apparent from the following description. Y

ln the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description.

lin the drawings:

F 1 is a longitudinal section through an embodiment of the invention in which 'the settling tank is conical in shape;

F ig. 2 is a plan view of the operating mechanism employed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is aplan view of the discharge end of the classifier shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section of an alternate form of the in Fig. 1; A

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line 5:--5, Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line 6 6, F ig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail View showing a section through the bearing employed in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a detail side Velevation of the operating end of the classifier shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an end elevation taken on the 1in@ i0-10, Fig. 8.

In general, the invention comprises a series of segment-shaped rakes, 12, which are secured, in alignment, to a common shaft 13. The shaft 13 is arranged to simultaneously rotate and reciprocate so that the rakes 12, will dip into the solution and simultaneously move toward the upper ex-A tremity of a classifier tank, 14:.

rlihis simultaneous rotating and reciprocating movement is obtained through the medium of the following described mechanism. The shaft 13 is operated from a driving shaft 15 which carries a belt-pulley 16, a bevel gear 17 and an eccentric 18. At right angles to the shaft 15 and parallel to the vshaft 13, a countershaft 19 is placed carrying a bevel gear 20, which engages the bevel gear 17, and aspur gear 21 which meshes with a spur gear 22. The spur gear 22 is splined upon the shaft 13 so that it will rotate therewith and yet will allow the shaft 13 to move longitudinally. Upon the eX-- tremity ofthe shaft 13, a collar 23 is mounted to which is pivotally connected a connecting rod 24 which engages the eccentric 18.

ln Figs.A 1 and 2 the shaft 13 is divided into two sections joined by a universal joint 25. 'l his allows thev section within the operating mechanism to remain stationary while the angle of the section within the classifier is being adjusted. ln Figs. 8 and 9 the shaft 13 is continuous, the entire operating mechanism being suspended from the shaft 15, so that any adjustment in the shaft 13 will move the entire mechanism.

ln the form shown in Fig. 1, the classifier tank 14 is semi-conical in shape, the extremity of least diameter being placed` toward the operating mechanism, and being proclassifier shown i wit vided with a sand discharge 26. A pulp discharge 27 extends entirely across the eX- tremity of greatest diameter of the cone and may be extended along the sides of the cone as shown in Fig. 3 if desired.

The operation of the conical classifier is as follows: Pulp is fed to the classifier tank 14 from a feed trough 28. The sand in the pulp settles to the inclined bottoni of the tank. The rakes 12 revolve and descend v into the pulp and at the same time, through the action of the eccentric 18, pull the sand up the inclined bottom discharging it over the sand discharge 26 allowing the liquid to' drain back into the tank. After the rakes have left the solution they are returned toward lthe solution discharge by the action of the eccentric, their cycle of operation being repeated. The excess solution flows over the discharge 27.

To facilitate the removal of theV sliines from .the sand, .water may be introduced under'pressure in the lower point of the cone, as shown at 29. This washes the sand and keeps the slimes in the solution sothat 'they will discharge at 27. A drain' 3() is provided for draining the classifier tank.

The extremity of the shaft 13 is carried in a vertically adjustable bearing 31'which may be raised or'lowered, tov regulate the depth at which the rakes 12 engage the sand, by means of an adjusting screw 32.

In the conical form of the apparatus the sha-ft 13 is practically horizontal, While the length of the rakes 12 varies to conform to the slant of the bottom of the classifier tank.-

In some installations it may be desirable to obtain a cleaner sand than can be -delivered by t-he apparatus of'Fig. 1. Toaccomplish this, a semi bowl-sliaped compartment 33 is added at the Voverflow end of the classifier tank 14, as shown in Fig. 4. An opening 34 is provided in the end of the classifier tank 14 communicating with the compartment 33. The opening 34 is controlled by a gatev 35 connected to the shaft a 13, as shown at 36, so that when the shaft is raised by means of the screw 32 the gate 35 will be similarly raised. The purpose of this connection is to keep the opening practically uniform. When the rakes are. raised the sand will build up in the bottom of the compartment 33 resulting in closing the yopening 34, but since the gate 35 raises the arerheld together in a'flanged, splitfcollar 'wash the sands.

The sands are carried through the open,- ing 34 and raised by the rakes 12 as described with reference to Fig.` 1. and solution overiow around the circum ference of the compartment 33 into a'circumferential 'launder 46. The tank is drained by means of a suitable drain pipe 47.

ln Figs. 8, 9 and 10 a form of the-invention is shown in which the classifier tank 14 is semi-cylindrical instead of semi-conical.

In -thisform the length of the rakes 12 isuniform and the shaft 13 is practically parallel to the bottom of the tank 14. A slidable bearing 48 is provided for the shaft 13 which is regulated by a screw 49. Movement of the screw 49 pivots the shaft 13, and the entire operating mechanism, on the shaft 15 which is carried on stationary outboard bearings 50, supported from the tank 14 by a suitabley frame extension 51. The operating mechanism is carried as a unit on a pivoted base casting 52.

Of course, the pivoted operating mechanism of Fig. 8 can be used on the classifier' tank as shown in Fig. 1 and the stationary operating mechanism of Fig. 1l can, if de sired, be used on theclassifier tank of Fig.

In the cylindrical form the sands discharge at the high point, 53, of the cylinder and the slimes and solution overflow over the lower end of the tank 14 at 54.

It is desired to call attention to the large overflow area in both embodiments of the invention, but more particularly to the forml shown in Fig. 4. This is a valuable asset in a machine of this character.

The compartment 33 forms, with its water inlet 46', what might be' termed a hydraulic classifier and would o 'crate as such without the arm 38 and the lade `39. The jet of water from the inlet 46 would wash and agitate the sand keeping it in suspension so that it would travel into the tank 14. One difficulty with this form ofa classifier has been, however, that the sands-will build up and cling to the sides of the bowl. lIt is to overcome this difficulty that the blade 39 is used. The blade will in its revolution scrape the sand from the sides of the compartment 33, constantly working it toward the open- The The slimes ing 34 where it will pass into the tank 14 and be raised by the rakes 12. It is preferable to'place the blade 39 at an angle to .the axis of the shaft 13 so that it will force the sand into the opening 34C.y f

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and'illustrated herein, it is desired and understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire secured by y'Letters Patent is:

1. A classifiercomprising a tank having an angularly dis osed, semi-cylindrical bottom; a longitu inal shaft in lsaid tank; rakes secured to said shaft and means for rotating and reciprocating said shaft.

2. A classifier comprising a tank having an angularly disposed, semi-cylindrical bottom; a reciprocally mounted rotatable shaft in said tank and rakessecured to said shaft and extending below the liquid in said tank.

3. A classifier comprising a tank having an angularly disposed, semi-cylindrical bottom; a reciprocally mounted .rotatable shaft in said tank; rakes secured to saidshaft and means for simultaneously rotating and reciprocating said shaft.

4. A classifier comprising a -tank having an angularly disposed, semi-cylindricall bottom; a reciprocally mounted rotatable shaftin said tank; rakes secured to said shaft and means for simultaneously rotating and reciprocating said shaft, said means comprising, driving means splined in said shaft; an eccentric crank and a connecting rod communicating the motion of said crank to said shaft.

5. A classifier comprising a tank having an angularly disposed, semi-cylindrical bot! tom; a reciprocally mounted rotatable shaft in said tank; rakes secured to said shaft; a vertically adjustable bearing near one extremity of said shaft and pivotal means for supporting the opposite extremityT thereof.

6. A classifier comprising a tank having an angularly dis osed, semi-cylindrical botsaid compartment communicating with said tank below the water line and `being'provided with a peripheral overflowf and a water inlet communicating with said compartment through the bottom thereof.

8. A classifier comprising a tank having an angularly disposed, semi-cylindrical bottom; a longitudinal shaft in said tank; rakes secured to said shaft; acompartment adjacent to the deepest portion of said tank, said compartment communicating with said tank below the water line and being provided With a peripheral overflow; a water inlet communicating with said compartment through the bottom thereof anda second water inlet communicating with said tank through the bottom and substantially at the deepest part thereof.

9. A classifier com rising a' tank having an angularly dispose semi-cylindrical bottom; a longitudinal shaft in said tank; rakes secured to said shaft; a vertically adf` justable bearing near one extremity of said shaft; pivotal means for supporting'the op- .posite extremity thereof;' a compartment adjacent the deepest ortion of said tank; an opening communicating between said compartment and said tank and a gate for controlling said opening, .said gate being op` erable from the vertical adjustment of said shaft. 4

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

ARTHUR C. DAMAN. 

